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Emergency anti-war demo as MPs debate strikes
An emergency demonstration has been called by Bristol Stop the War Coalition ahead of tonight’s key vote on airstrikes in Syria.
A House of Commons debate got underway at 1pm on Wednesday with a vote set to be taken at about 10pm.
The Stop the War Coalition has called a protest at the Cascade Steps in the city centre from 5.30pm.
Jeremy Clarke of Bristol Stop The War Coalition said the demonstration rejects the idea that bombing Syria will make the UK safer.
“We are told that we need to be doing something in the face of the attacks in Paris. But it is precisely because of what we have been doing in the region that the attacks happened,” he said.
“Our government should prioritise diplomatic & political negotiations to halt the Syrian civil war, put pressure on the Turkish authorities to stop allowing its borders to be used for the supply of arms and fighters into Syria, and end all funding and arms sales to regimes in the region who are supporting ISIS in any way.
“Bombing will lead to further military escalation in Syria and more chaos, destruction and loss of life. At home it will lead to increases in racism and Islamophobia.”
Almost 1,000 people had signed up to attend the event in Bristol by 1pm on Wednesday.
Read here why Kerry McCarthy, Bristol East MP for Labour, is voting against.
Picture from Bristol Stop the War Coalition
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